The Most Rev. Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D., Archbishop of Louisville, installed 12 Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology (MTSM) seminarians in the Ministry of Acolyte on November 10 in the Chapel of St. Gregory the Great. Three formal steps are required by the Church prior to being ordained …

Vatican City, Jan 11, 2021 / 11:45 am MT (CNA).- On Jan. 11, Pope Francis published an apostolic letter issued motu proprio (which means “on his own impulse” in Latin), modifying canon law regarding women’s access to the ministries of lector and acolyte. He also released a letter to Vatican …

by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Jan 11, 2021 / 04:05 am MT (CNA).- Pope Francis issued a motu proprio Monday changing canon law to allow women to serve as lectors and acolytes. In the motu proprio “Spiritus Domini,” issued on Jan. 11, the pope changed canon 230 § 1 of …

The Most Rev. Dennis M. Schnurr, Archbishop of Cincinnati, installed 12 Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology (MTSM) seminarians in the Ministry of Acolyte on November 4 in the Chapel of St. Gregory the Great. There are three formal steps required by the Church prior to one’s being …

Q: In the last 50 years, various orders in the church, including porter, exorcist, and subdeacon, have disappeared. What is the theology behind these orders and why were they discontinued? A: As early as the third century, certain roles of service, including deacon, subdeacon, lector, and acolyte, were present in …